Overgrooming for a year - help please.

Hi,

I've been dealing with my cat's licking and scratching for almost two years now. We've tried Atopica, Prednisone, and several other medications as well as food trials. The medications seem to solve the problem but they are not good for her health over time. The vet has said she will develop diabetes if she continues on the meds. I am interested in taking her to a holistic vet and then I came across other similar posts here at TCS, in this thread  by @Bluey. 

"So we searched to find a vet that was also trained in alternative medicine. We found one trained in Chinese Medicine in addition to being a traditional vet. Her interpretation of overgrooming is very different than traditional medicine. It is caused by an "energy" imbalance (simplified explanation). Our kitty was "too hot," thus ripping out his hair. Not that he had a fever - he didn't. But he had an "extreme spleen Qi deficiency," and an "extreme Yin deficiency." She prescribed an herbal medication. Within two weeks, it was quite clear it was helping. Within six months, ALL his fur had grown back, and he had a thick, beautiful, glossy coat. We did keep him on the grain free, all wet food diet."

​Can I ask what herbal medication she prescribed? I am really lost as where to turn at this point.

Thanks for reading,

Sonia

Hi @SoniaDiane  , I am sorry that your post has not had any replies before now.  Unfortunately I do not have any experience of a cat doing this but I know many other members here on TCS do, and hope that someone will see your question and be able to offer some answers and support.  It is so stressful and upsetting when you see a cat obviously uncomfortable or in pain and then not be able to find some way of helping them.

I hope you see an improvement in your cat's health and happiness very soon.

I would go back to ruling out food. In pets, food allergies show up in the skin, including itching and hair loss. The best way to rule out a protein or food allergy is to feed the most bio appropriate food you can, which is homecooked or raw, or if that's not possible then high quality canned food with as little fillers as possible. Food allergies are fairly common in cats, especially because commercial cat foods (especially kibble) are loaded with things cats can't digest or use, like wheat, corn, soy, and veggies. Holistic vets are typically more supportive of homecooked or raw foods, whereas mainstream vets often want to prescribe RX foods, which IMO aren't bio appropriate and don't always solve the issue. 

S soniadiane
I'm bumping your post to see if any other members have information for you.

S soniadiane
I suggest you start a new thread with a title like "Seeking Holistic Vet for Overgrooming" or "Holistic vet wanted"

The original thread you posted in was several years old, and those members may not even be reading forums anymore.

There are members who use alternative medicines, and a post with a better title might get more responses.

I hope this helps and that you are able to help your kitty

Stress is often a factor in overgrooming, so start with a Feliway diffuser plug that emits de-stressing cat pheromones.

You could try some herbal valerian, which can be found ready made into cat-calming drops and treats.  However, I'll have to have a think about whether it might be considered 'hot'.

Catnip would probably be 'cool', so perhaps try that for calming.  As would be avena sativa, or wild oats, which commonly comes in trays for growing as "cat grass".  But, simple porridge oats put into a piece of cotton cloth, like a handkerchief, then tied around with a band or string, can be soaked for a short while in warm water, whilst holding it.  When you can squeeze out milky white porridge cream, it's ready, and can be used to dab onto the skin.  But it will look a bit yucky.  Maybe think about mixing 1tsp to 2tsp of porridge oats in his wet food each day.

A decoction of echinacea, mixed with calendula, red clover, and chamomile tea is very effective for skin complaints.  Either wet a cloth with the mix and gently pat on his coat, or spray on the mist setting.  At a guess, these would be 'cool' medicine.

Nettle is a powerful antihistamine and if your cat has itchy skin, a cold nettle tea rinse, dab, or spray would be highly effective.  Nettle tea can also be taken internally by either adding a teaspoon to water each day and/or squirting into the mouth with a syringe or dropper bottle.  The dried herb could also be rehydrated and mixed into wet food, it tastes yummy, in my opinion.  Nettle is also good for hair and will brown up brunette hair that has dulled.  I would have thought nettle was 'cool'.

You could also make your own oils out of single herbs by stuffing the dried herb into a sterilised jam jar, then filling it up with vegetable oil, then ramming in more of the herb until there's no room left.  Shake vigorously, label & date, put it in a dark cupboard for at least two months, shaking it every so often in the meantime.  However, oil left for a year or more is better.  So, it's long term planning but is simple enough to produce.  Oils can be used to massage your cat.

Apple Cider Vinegar that contains a live enzyme called, mother, which looks like floating ectoplasm, is super good for both skin and hair.  You can mix it 50/50 with water and spray it on, or dab it on with a cloth.  Make sure you shake vigorously before each use to mix in the mother.  This will also deter fleas, as well as heal scabby bits and make hair glossy and clean.  ACV can also be added to water or food,  try 1tsp to see if he likes it then build up to 2tsp or even 3tsp each day.  ACV also helps to bring the ph level back in line, which could have a dramatic effect on his alkaline and acid, yin and yang, hot and cold - chi. 

Bach Flower Remedies for animals:  Crab Apple and Cherry Plum for  obsessive overgrooming and self-inflicted harm by scratching could be useful.  And Chestnut Bud to help break this repeated cycle of behaviour.  They would not be considered either 'hot or cold'.

All these remedies are not Chinese, however, and Chinese herbalists use Chinese herbs that I don't know about.  Finding the exact ingredient she used would simply require asking her........   I could probably tell you how to prepare it if I knew what is was.  I am not a licensed herbal medicinist for humans, let alone for cats.  But I know that the above are all safe for cats.  However, it is recommended that you check with your vet before using herbal medicine on cats.  You cannot take my word for it alone, as I am not licensed.  

I will, no doubt, come up with some more remedies when they happen to pop up in my mind, and will let you know.  I'm sorry that I can't tell you the Chinese herbs that were used, only the person who made the medicine can.

 

Everything mentioned can be source from Amazon or eBay.